July 7, 2017 - IFS, a global enterprise applications company, has released a primary research study that shows a strong relationship between mobile access to industrial companies’ enterprise software and their readiness for digital transformation. The study surveyed 200 industrial users of enterprise resource planning, field service management, enterprise asset management and other types of enterprise software.

Key findings of the study include:

Respondents who said their enterprise software prepared them well for digital transformation were more than twice as likely to access their software from a mobile device than those who said their software did a poor job of preparing them for digital transformation. There is a relationship between enterprise mobility and readiness for digital transformation.

For almost 70 percent of respondents, increasing mobile access to enterprise software may be an immediate digital transformation opportunity. Only 31 percent of respondents said they access enterprise software through a mobile device.

While tablet computers were the device most frequently used to access various types of enterprise software, only 17 percent of respondents said their entire enterprise suite was accessible by tablets and other touchscreen devices.

Poor mobile access and the resulting lack of readiness for digital transformation can prevent companies from establishing service-focused business models.

Respondents, mostly in complex and industrial manufacturing, were as much as 22 percent more likely to engage in business models like aftermarket service, field service management or depot repair if they said their enterprise software did a good job of preparing them for digital transformation.

“Our study sample was heavily populated by companies in industrial and machine manufacturing and industrial automation,” IFS vice president of marketing in North America, Steve Andrew, said. “Because product revenue growth may not be sufficient to meet corporate goals, companies will face pressure to monetize services delivered after the sale. This requires not only enterprise software with a strong mobility component, but the overall agility to handle digital transformation as they extend their revenue profile over the lifecycle of the durable assets they sell.”

IFS Chief Technology Officer in North America Rick Veague said, “Mobile is the most obvious manifestation of digital transformation. It is not the only one or, for that matter, the most important one. But when people use enterprise software from a mobile device, it indicates that the system is the lifeblood of the business. Your employees can connect into those core processes and participate even if they are not sitting at their desk. If you cannot do this, you will struggle with anything in digital transformation.”